Pawl-actuator.



J. T. CORLEY.

PAWL ACTUATOR.

APPLICATION HLED IAN.20, mu.

1 184,51, Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFIE JOHN T. GORLEY, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

PAWL-ACTUATOR.

Application filed January 20, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN T. ConLnY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pawl-Actuators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a pawl actuator and has for its object to provide a pawl operating handle pivoted near its lower end to a lever or other movable member, and having a body portion carrying a spring arranged to press against the rear side of said lever to permit a comparatively long stroke of the pawl and firmly hold the same in engaged position.

A further object of this invention is to split the spring carrying body portion so that the lever may be carried through it in positioning the handle thereon.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Of the accompanying drawings: Figure 1- is a side elevation illustrating the handle of the operating lever to which is attached my improved pawl actuator, the same being set in operative position to hold the pawl in engagement with its rack by means of a spring pressure acting against the rear of the lever. Fig. 2 shows the actuator as swung down into position to permit the spring to enter its body portion after having been positioned upon the lever. Flg. 3- is a view of the underside of the actuator showing the split in the body portion for the reception of the lever. Fig. 4cis a rear view of the pawl actuator showing the narrow split through the body which is adapted to be sprung open to be passed over the lever. Fig. 5 is a modification showing the body portion formed separate from the handle portion with ears to which the handle is secured. Fig. 6 shows the handle portion with ears to be connected to those of the body portion. Fig. 7 is an underneath view showing the handle and body portion as connected together. Fig. 8 is a still further modified form in which the handle portion is provided with an enlarged opening adapted to pass over the lever collar, which construction obviates the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

Serial No. 813,342.

necessity of splitting the body portion to permit the lever to be passed therethrough. It is found in practice that in some makes of automobiles that the pawl controlling device for the operating levers requires a spring that will permit a comparatively long stroke, and at the same time will be stiff enough to positively hold the pawl in engagement with its rack, as the retaining of the lever in the different positions by this pawl is of great importance, for if the pawl should become released the lever would move itself and cause other gears to be thrown into engagement, which is liable to do considerable damage. To positively prevent such accidents I have provided a pawl actuator comprising a handle 10 forked at its lower portion at 11 and turned rearwardly to straddle the operating lever 12, which is preferably rectangular in cross section. The rearwardly turned portion 12 is pivoted at 13 to the lever. In the forward part 14 of the rearwardly turned portion of the handle the pawl connector 15 is pivoted at 16, whereby a movement of the handle 10 toward the lever causes the pawl 17 to be raised from engagement with its ratchet 18 to release the lever so that it may be moved at the will of the operator. In order to firmly retain this pawl in its ratchet I have provided a body portion 20 which is a part of the handle portion 10, the same being arranged to extend to the rear of the lever.

In Figs. 1 to 3 I have illustrated the body portion as formed of two sections 22 integral .with the respective members of the forked portion 11. These sections are cylindrical in cross section and provided at one end with a partition, the sections cooperating to form a cylindrical spring carrier open at one end and closed at the other. Oppositely disposed slots 21 are formed in the open end of said carrier. In assembling, the carrier is pivoted to the handle as indicated at 13, the slots 21 registering with the handle 12 so as to permit the open end of the carrier to swing across said handle. The spring 20 is inserted in the carrier when the latter is in the position indicated in Fig. 2, and then the carrier is swung on its pivot to the position indicated in Fig. 1. when the rod 15 is connected thereto. In this position the spring bears at one end against the edge of the lever 12 and at the other end against the closed end of the carrier.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show a modification in Which'the' body'portion 24 is constructed separate and independent of thehaiidle '27 in which case it isl'provided'w'ith apair of ears 25 to which the corresponding ears 26 of the handle is connected by passing pivot pins 34, and 3.5 through the eyes 28 and 29,

the pin at 28 pivoting the handle to the is connected to the'handle.

7 Still another modified form of handle is illustratedlin Fig; 8 in which the upper portion of the-handle 31 is in the same general shape as the handle 10, but is provided with an enlarged aperture at 32 near the lower portion thereof whereby it maybe passed over the end of the lever, the lower end be ing provided with the usual body portion 33,

the same as the handle 10. By this con-' struction it will be seen that it is not necessary to split the body inorder to position the handle on the lever as the handle is passed down over the end of the lever to'its pivoting point or operating position.

I claim: 1. The combination, with an operat ng lever of an, upwardly extending actuatmg f handle provided with a forked portion to straddle the lever' and pivotally connected thereto, a spring-carrier connected with said 7 forked portion, and a spring in said carrier,

one end of said spring bearing against one 7 edge of said lever, the other end bearing 40' against an abutment in said carrier.

2. The combination with an operating lever of" an upwardly extending actuating handle providedwith a forked portion to straddle the lever and pivotally connected thereto, a spring-carrier connected Withsaid forked portion, said carrier having longitudinal ,slots to receive said lever, andga spring in said carrier, one end of said spring bearing against one edge of said lever, the

other end bearing against an abutment in T 7 said carrienxfl to 3, The combination with an operating lever, of an upwardly extending actuating handle provided with aforked portion to I56 I straddle, the lever and pivotally connected thereto, a spring carrier, connected with said forked portion, said carrier being open at one end and closed at the other end, the open end portion being slotted to receive said 69 lever, and a springjin said carrier, one end of the spring bearing against one edgeofthey lever, the other end bearing-againstthe closed end of-said carrier. 7 r

In testimony whereof I aflix my si ture 6 in presence oftwo Witnesses. r

JOHN T.1CORLEY. Witnesses: 7 1 i HOWARD E. BARLOW, E. I. OGDEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' a Washington, I). G. 

